Honours

What is Honours?

The Honours degree in the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies is a fourth year of study beyond the normal B.A. It is possible to do Honours part-time. It is also possible to enter the Honours program at midyear.

Honours is a pre-requisite for entry to higher degrees by research, such as the M.A. (research) and Ph.D.

The School offers the opportunity for students to undertake honours in

About the Honours Program

Why Study Honours?

Honours involves intensive advanced study combining coursework with a research project, or dissertation, in which the student engages in independent research on an approved topic under the supervision of a member of academic staff. For many students honours provides a stimulating and satisfying completion to their undergraduate work and for others it also offers a gateway to postgraduate research since the entry requirement for research degrees usually involves honours study to a specific level.

The skills which students acquire during their honours year extend those already established during the arts degree in a significant way and are widely recognised by employers and professional associations. These include developing your analytical skills, your understanding of conceptual frameworks and your capacity to formulate a research project and undertake independent research.

Honours work is also designed to enhance students’ capacities to express their ideas and conclusions in a lucid and coherent way. The experience of preparing a dissertation under supervision can help to equip honours students for future professional tasks involving research, analysis of data, writing reports and so forth. There is a qualitative difference between most pass degrees and an Honours graduate. An Honours degree qualifies you for higher-level positions and for a more interesting range of careers, in research or communication, or administrative or critical spheres, in either the public or the private sector.

For staff in the School and in the Faculty of Arts in general, honours teaching is a particularly enjoyable part of their work. Students undertaking honours are likely to get to know their teachers rather better than in earlier years and will work closely throughout the year with the individual staff member who supervises their dissertation. Honours students often enjoy the camaraderie of the year, which involves intense work and deep personal rewards and there are many aspects of this work which the “honours year” shares as a group

Combined Honours

Combined honours courses which combine study in any of these disciplines with other disciplines in the Faculty of Arts are also available with permission. Honours involves intensive advanced study combining coursework with a research project, or dissertation, in which the student engages in independent research on an approved topic under the supervision of a member of academic staff.

For many students honours provides a stimulating and satisfying completion to their undergraduate work and for others it also offers a gateway to postgraduate research since the entry requirement for research degrees usually involves honours study to a specific level.

The School of Philosophical, Historical & International Studies offers Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) in the following areas: Archaeology, Ancient History and Classics, Bioethics, History, Jewish Civilisation, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

The Monash Extension program (formerly known as Enhancement Studies) is offered by Monash to enable students in their last year at school to take a pair of university subjects as part of their VCE year.